A Rose by Any Other Name?
February 8, 2001
1:01 p.m.
I've got a manuscript on my desk. This, of course, shouldn't surprise you. But you see, it's sitting in a manila envelope with the flap all licked and sealed and the little wing clips poked through and pressed tight. "Okay," I hear you say. "You've got a submission ready for the mail." Big deal. But it's been here since Monday. "So you're a lazy writer and haven't gotten off your duff to mail it." No. It's worse than that. I hate titles. I believe I've mentioned that before, but it bears repeating. I hate tiles. This stupid manuscript is sitting all sealed on my desk because I hate titles. You see, I wrote a story. And I thought the title was mediocre to good. Then I rewrote pieces, and the title no longer really fit. Sunday evening I was struck with what I thought was a great title. Not just a great title. A fantastic title! I quickly jotted it in, and stuffed it in the aforementioned envelope. I took it to work Monday with every intention of using my lunch break to submit it so that I could be showered with the literary fame that I so richly deserve. ... but then somewhere around nine o'clock Monday morning I started to feel this nagging sensation. Unfortunately it wasn't my boss. The title stank. A little distance from my moment of epiphany gave me to realize that this insightful title was dull and lifeless. And so I brought it home and sat it on my desk, where it has taken up residence--sitting quietly, full of promise but waiting for that final adornment like the tree Charlie Brown bought home for the Christmas play. It's Thursday. Still no good title. But it will sit there until I get one, by God. then I'll open that smug-looking envelope and prove who is boss around here.   Have a good day.  I can name that story in 9,000 words... Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
|
"Dreams are almost impossible to get rid of. They trouble you and tempt you. They keep reminding you that you're not satisfied with your life, that something crucial is missing. And that's very lucky for you. If your dreams didn't trouble you, you'd forget them entirely." Barbara Sher |
BACK TO 
|